Bobby-pin spreader and applicator



Nov. 7, 1950 J. GUSS BOBBY-PIN SPREADER AND APPLICATOR Filed Dec. 19, 1947 INVENTOR. r/mea Z. Guam ATTD R N EYS Patented Nov. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOBBY-PIN SPREADER AND APPLICATOR James L. Guss, Manilla, Iowa Application December 19, 1947, Serial No. 792,775

. 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to a hair dress.- ing device for use in making pin curls and more particularly to a combined bobby pin spreader and applicator.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device which is adapted to be used for spreading the prongs of bobby pins by inserting the pin in a passageway in the device, and while the prongs are thus separated applying the bobby pin to a curled section of hair to form a pin curl.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined bobby pin spreader and applicator which will enable the user or operator to manipulate the device with one hand, thus leaving the remaining hand free for holding the hair in its previously curled or shaped position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined bobby pin spreader and applicator which can be easily manipulated to spread the prongs of abobby pin preparatory to insertion in a hair curl in a sanitary and efficient manner.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a combined bobby pin spreader and applicator which is light in weight, and of a convenientsize to permit handling and manipulation while applying hair fasteners of the bobby pin type to hair curls or pin curls.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a compact device into which bobby pins are inserted to spread the prongs after which the device with the spread bobby pin is presented to the head so that the spread prongs of the bobby pin can be placed on opposite sides of a pin curl. When the bobby pin has been placed in position, the spreading wedge is released to allow the prongs to embrace the pin curl and simultaneously to effect the release of the bobby pin from the combined bobby pin spreader and applicator.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description of the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the combined bobby pin spreader and applicator embodying the invention, and showing a hair fastener of the bobby pin type received in the applicator in position for being inserted in a hair wave or curl formed by a twisted hair strand.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the combined bobby pin spreader and applicator taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows ,to illustrate various details of construction. v

Figure 3 is an end view of the combined bobby pin spreader and applicator showing a portion broken away to illustrate the sectional shape of the bobby pin receiving slot and the shape of the wedge normally positioned within, said slot. H l Figure 4 is a horizontal transverse cross-sectional view taken on line 4,-4 of Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows to illustrate the arrangement of the sliding retractible wedge and the relation thereof with respect to, the bobbypin receiving slot or opening and; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the retractible sliding wedge removed from the combined bobby pin spreader and applicator to show the shape of the various wedge faces. In the drawings, there is shown an adaptation of the invention in the form of a substantially cubic shaped body portion 5 formed of plastic material or similar composition which will lend itself readily to easy handling and manipulation. Formed integral with the body portion5 is an upwardly extending projection 6 to form a portion of a manipulating handle. The body portion 5 is provided with a transverse through opening or passageway 1 extending from one wall of the cubic body portion to the other. The opening is of a size and cross section al dimension such as to slidably receive and permit the passage of a bobby pin as shown in Figure ll Extending at right angles or normal to the through passageway or opening 1, and inwardly from one wall of the body portion 5, is a slideway opening 8 for slidably receiving a slide 9. It is to be noted, that the lower Wall of the opening 8 is spaced a slight distance above the bottom wall of the through passageway or open; ing 1 so that one of the prongs of the bobby pin will pass freely beneath the straight lower wall of the slide 9 when the slide is projected into the through opening or passageway 1.

The upper wall surface of the slide 9 adjacent one end is cut away as at ID to provide an inclined wedge surface ll extending longitudinally of the through opening or passageway '21, so as to be presented to the other prong of the bobby pin when the pin is inserted in the passageway. Also formed on the slide 9 is a wedge shaped projection I2 adapted to be received in a mutually shaped recess 13 in the wall of the passageway oropening 1 directly opposite the slide 9. Thus; when the slide 9 is projected into the through passageway or opening .1, the sharp edge l4 formed at the point where the inclined surface and bottom wall surface of the slide 9 merge, the sharp edge is will separate the prongs of the bobby pin when the bobby pin is forced into said through opening.

During the forcing of the bobby pin into the through opening or passageway i, the upper leg or prong of the bobby pin will move up the inclined surface H while the lower leg or prong of the bobby pin P will pass beneath the lower straight wall of the slide. Continued movement of the bobby pin into the slot or passageway i will cause the open end of the bobby pin to pass more than one half its length through the body portion so that the free ends or prongs will project a considerable distance beyond the opposite wall of the body portion and will be .positioned for application to a pin curl or the like.

Formed in the body portion 5 is a slot which intersects the slideway t and extends inwardly from one wall of the body portion to a point adjacent the center thereof. Rockably mounted in the slot I5 is an operating lever it having an enlarged upper end portion ll to provide a finger piece. The operating lever is mounted on a pivot pin 18 which extends into suitable openings in the body portion 5 on each side of the slot or kerf I5. The lowermost end of the operating lever.l6 is reduced to provide a finger or projection l9 which is adapted to enter an opening 20 in the slide 9 so that rocking movement of the operating lever it will cause to and fro slidingmovement of the slide 9. One edge of the slot 20 is beveled as at 21 to allow free swinging of the operating lever and the resultant movement of the slide a distance suflicient to clear the passageway or opening 7. As the slide 9 is-moved to clear the bobby-pin P the projection I2 willremain in engagement with the lower prong of the bobby pin and permit the upper prong to snap downward due to the slant of the upper surface of projection I2. Thus, instead of both prongs moving together simultaneously as the slide is moved from between the prongs the lower prong will remain stationary and the upper prong will snap downwardly againstthe lower prong.

In use, the body portion 5 is placed on a suittable support so that'the operative end of the through opening or passageway l is ina position to conveniently insert a bobby pin P. It is assumed, that the slide 9 is in a positionso-that the wedge surface H and sharp edge M will project into the through passageway or opening 7 so'that when the prongs engage above and-beneath the wedge portion of the slide, the prongs of the bobby pin will be spread. By pushing the pin in a direction to pass through the passageway, the spread prong ends will project a considerable distance beyond the combined bobby pin spreader and applicator. The user can now manipulate the cubic shaped body portion to present the spread bobby pin prongs to a pin curl or the like. After the spread bobby pin prongs have been placed in their intended position with respect to the pin curl, the operating lever I6 is operated to retract the slide 9 and wedge portion H. Thus, the prongs of the bobby pins will be closed so that they will embrace the pin curl or the like and retain the same in proper position. The body portion can then be moved free of the curl which movement will cause the remaining portion of the bobby pin in the through passageway I to be removed or displaced.

The operation is repeated for each bobby pin inserted, and after the pin is displaced from 4 within the through passageway, the operating lever 16 is moved in a direction to reposition the wedge shaped portion of the slide within the opening or through passageway 'i.

The projection l2 on the slide 9 is intended to hold the lower prong of the spread bobby pin stationary, and cause the upper prong of the pin to snap downward as the slide or wedge is pulled so that the wedge shaped portion i2 will be removed from the bobby pin when the operating lever I1 is pressed.

During the operation of loading the combined spreader and applicator, it is held in one hand with the thumb and finger gripping the lower part of the body which holds the wedge in place. A bobby pin is inserted with the other hand so that the prongs of the pin will be expanded in the manner as set forth above. After the bobby pin has thus been inserted, the device is placed in a convenient location holding the spread bobby pin in position ready to be applied with one hand after the individual curl or wave has been arranged and held in place with the other hand.

I claim:

1. A bobby pin spreader and applicator, comprising a body portion having a through opening defining a bobby pin passageway, an opening normal to and communicating with said passageway, said opening having its bottom wall slightly spaced above the bottom wall of said through passageway, a slide mounted in said opening, a wedge-shaped surface formed on the inner end of the slide extending longitudinally of the through.passagewayga'wedge shaped projection on the wedge-shaped surface at the inner end of the slide at right angles thereto and adapted to be received in a correspondingly shaped recess in one wall of the passageway when the slide is projected :in the path of said passageway, said slide having an opening (3611-.- trally thereof an operating lever pivotally connected to the body portion,.a finger on said operating lever extending into the opening in the slide, and a projection on the .body portion in vertical relation to said bodyportion and in 'opposed relation to the operating .lever whereby pressure exerted on theopposite, sidesof the extension and lever by the'fingers of the operator will cause the lever to swingtoward the projection on its pivot to cause the slide'to be retracted, said through passageway providing an opening for receiving abobby pin such that one leg of the bobby pin will pass beneath the slide,'whilethe other leg moves upwardly on the inclined surface to spread the legs, further manipulation of the operating lever causing release of the slide from its pin engaging position to permit the bobby pin legs to yieldingly contract.

2. A-bobby pin spreader and applicator, com -f prising a body portion having'a through 'pas sageway for slidably rec'eivingabobby pin, an opening in the body portion extending at right angles to the through passageway and communi eating with said passageway, a slide "movably mounted in said opening, said slide being provided with a wedge surface at one end thereof adapted to extend longitudinally ofthe through passageway with the thin edge of the wedge adjacent the mouth of the passageway and a slot centrally of the slide, the thin edge of the-wedge adapted for engaging the openends of said bobby -pin to thereby separate the prongs of the bobby pin when the same is inserted in the through passageway, a vertically v disposed projection on 5 6 said body portion, a vertically disposed lever piv- REFERENCES CITED otany mounted on Said body in opposed relation The following references are of record in the to said projection and adapted for pivotal movefile of this patent:

ment toward said projection, a finger on the lower end of said vertically disposed lever posi- UNITED STATES PATENTS tioned in the slot in said slide, so that when pres- 5 Number Name Date sure is applied to said lever to move said lever 2,250,303 Katz July 22, 1941 toward said vertically disposed projection the 00- 2,277,996 Sharp Mar. 31, 1942 action of the finger with the slot in said slide will 2,434,047 McArthur Jan. 6, 1948 cause said slide to move in the direction to re- 10 move said slide from said through passageway to move the projection on said slide outwardly of the prongs of said bobby pin.

JAMES L. GUSS. 

